Deforestation, Koala bears on the brink of extinction

Accordingly, when the number of Koala bears decreases seriously, they will no longer play an important role in the ecosystem, for example, the role of carnivores to balance the number of individuals of other species. “Functional extinction” also means that this species is gradually losing its ability to reproduce due to too few individuals.

According to the news site The Conversation, the main cause is human activities that destroy the natural habitat of Koala bears – eucalyptus forests (also known as eucalyptus forests). The most prominent of these are deforestation, agricultural, forestry and fishery activities, urbanization and environmental pollution.

Currently, 80% of the natural habitat of this animal species has been lost, not to mention their lives are threatened by dogs and cars on the road. According to the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF), up to 4,000 die each year from being hit by cars or bitten by dogs.

A koala drinks water from a birdbath in a residential area in a suburb of Australia – Photo: ReutersThe rate of decline in koala populations is also a matter of concern. In 2011, a study of koalas in the northeastern state of Queensland and the southwestern state of New South Wales found that in 14 years (from 1995 to 2009), up to 80% of koalas had been lost due to climate change causing extreme weather.

A zookeeper gives a eucalyptus leaf to a koala at the Sydney Wildlife Zoo in Australia – Photo: ReutersWhen the population size is too small, inbreeding will become more common, leaving behind deformities, poor health, and low fertility in the next generation. This is especially common in populations living near urban areas – where their lives are constantly threatened.

Koalas play an important role in the ecosystem thanks to their diet. They mainly eat the top leaves of eucalyptus trees, so they “prune” the tops of these trees to make the forests cooler and more exposed to sunlight.

Thus, without koalas, less sunlight will penetrate these forests, directly affecting the underground ecosystem in the forests. In addition, when koalas no longer eat leaves, the dense leaf density also increases the probability of forest fires.